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Statements, photo
candidates for Re|
offices - pages 10-11
The early retirement incentive
You better check out the fine print first
See 'What you should know'-page 12
Always protect your membership status
I
N
D
E
A break in union membership
status can have long-term future
implications. Your membership
status affects your eligibility with
respect to:
* seeking or holding union
office,
* signing nominating
petitions for potential
candidates,
* voting in union elections,
and
* voting on collective
bargaining contracts.
Only members "in good
standing" can participate in
these activities. To be in "good
standing," your dues cannot be
delinquent.
If you go on unpaid leave or
for any other reason have a
X
PAGE THREE — The state budget remains stalled.
Retirees expected to receive retroactive pension
supplementation.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT Pages 4 Ä 5 - DPW
members salvage flood damaged vehicles, saving the City of
Troy thousands of dollars. And a Village of Malverne member
saves a grandmother and her grandson from a burning home.
STATE GOVERNMENT Pages 6 & 7Rochester CSEA members get public support to save a stateof-the-art DMV office and Buffalo State College attempts to
privatize one of the most cost-effective power plants in the
state.
IN TOUCH WITH YOU Page 8 - CSEA President
Danny Donohue explains how proposed block grants will
paralyze local governments and hurt homeowners and the
middle class the most.
Local 805 member needs donors
Nancy Jerread, director of the Cattaraugus County Department of
Motor Vehicles and member of CSEA Local 805, is undergoing
treatment for a serious illness and needs 50 to 100 blood platelet
donors. To date, just over a dozen donors have signed on.
Platelets help to prevent severe bleeding. Without them, patients
may hemorrhage to death.
Donating platelets is a safe, simple process that takes about two
hours. A pint of blood is drawn from the donor s arm and passed
through a separating machine that collects the platelets. Then the
blood, minus the platelets, is returned to the donor.
Since platelets replenish quickly in the body, you may donate every
48 hours, six times a month, or 24 times a year.
If you would like to help, please call the CSEA Western Region
office at 716-886-0391. For more information on platelet donation
call the Roswell Park Cancer Institute at 716-845-8275.
GENERAL NEWS Pages 9-20 — statements of
candidates for CSEA Region offices are on pages 10 and 11;
early retirement information is on page 12; and a summary of
the March Board of Directors meeting is on page 15. Page 19
has important information about the CSEA Buyer's Edge
discount program.
Cellular Phone Service Expanded
At presstime it was announced that discounted Frontier
Cellular Phone service has been expanded to include Broome,
Tioga, Steuben & Chemung counties. For information please call:
In Bingham ton:
(Broome/Tioga)
Mike DeCastro
Christine Bearsch
607-725-7816
607-725-6000
Ita JElmira:
(Chemung/
Steuben)
Scott Pitcher
Paul Hrynkiw
Kathrjm Steele
607-738-6000
607-725-1000
607-765-1100
break in your employment
status, your dues will not
continue to be paid through
payroll deductions. You must
make arrangements to pay your
dues directly to CSEA to
continue your membership
status. If you are either laid off
or placed on leave without pay
status due to becoming disabled
by accident, illness, maternity or
paternity, you may be eligible for
dues-free membership status for
a period not to exceed one year.
You must notify the CSEA
Membership Records
Department at 1-800-342-4146,
Ext. 327, of any change in your
status and what arrangements
you are making to continue your
membership in CSEA.
Use the toll-free number below to call Gov. Pataki
and your state legislators.
Tell them
We didn't vote for
Service
propothese changes!"
1-800-SOS-6336
Details will appear in the next edition of The Public Sector.
THE
PUBLIC
official publication of
The Civil Service Employees
Association, Inc. Local 1000, AFSCME,
AFL-CIO
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ, Publisher
STANLEY HORNAK,
Asst. Director of Communications
ROGER A. COLE, Editor
KATHLEEN DALY. Associate Editor
CATHLEEN HORTON
Graphic Design & Support Services
RALPH DISTIN, Graphic Artist
JANICE NUSBAUM. Secretaiy
1996 May 1996
The Public Sector (USPS 0445-010) is published monthly by The Civil Service Employees
Association. Publication Office: 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.
Second Class Postage paid at Post Office, Albany, New York 12288.
Postmaster: Send address changes to: Civil Service Employees Association,
Attn: Membership Department, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.
Readers: Send any comments, complaints, siif^estions or ideas to:
IHiblisher, Ihc Ihiblic Sector.
143 Washington Averme, Albtmy, NY 12210-2303.
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATES
SHERYL C. JENKS
Long Island Region
(516) 462-0030
MARl^ M. KOl^lN
Central Region
(315) 433-0050
LILLY GIOIA
Metropolitan Region
(212) 406-2156
RON WOFFORD
Western Region
(716) 886-0391
ANITA MANLEY
Southern Region
(914) 831-1000
ED MOLITOR
Headquarters
(518) 434-0191
DAN CAMPBELL
Capital Region
gfpHC
l COWMUN
C
iT
j!
^ äiJj'rfiiuNiptL.
iGClUt^^
•VICIO/CIC-*®^
The Public Sector Committee
LONG ISLAND REGION Gloria Moran
METROPOLITAN I ^ G I O N
Jimmy Clipper, Chairman
SOUTHEI^ REGION Diane Hewitt
CAPITAL REGION Marguerite Stanley
C E N T I ^ REGION
Bnice
Damalt
WESTEI^ I^:GI0N James V. Kurtz
Sector
Page Three
Lawmakers still
miles apart on
new state budget
May was just around the corner
Pataki proposed a devastating
state budget that would slash most
and there was still no new state
vital public service programs,
budget in place as this edition of
reduce state aid to localities and
The Public Sector went to press.
shift education funding to local
And virtually no prospects that one
taxpayers.
could be agreed upon any time
soon.
IvCgislative leaders were
reportedly still about $ 1
billion apart on their
spending plans as April
was winding down. Gov.
Pataki and lawmakers
agreed to a one-month
extension of funding to
keep the government
operating until April 30
but it was unclear at
press time whether that
deadline might be further
extended, or what the
ramifications might be if
it was not.
State employees were,
however, expected to be
CSEA demonstrators protest proposed state
paid on schedule May 1
budget cuts in front of the Town of
regardless. Pataki and
lawmakers agreed to fund Newburgh office of Assemblyinember Tom
May 1 state payrolls after Kirwin. From left are CSEA Political Action
Coordinator Stan Merritt; CSEA Newburgh
being besieged by angry
City School District Unit Political Action
state workers when the
Committee Chair Chris Sladeski and his
previous payroll was
daughter Samantha and Newburgh City
delayed until the last
School District CSEA members Ed Gehlert
moment.
and Jon Stein.
Pataki slashes programs
for women, children
'This is no way for George Pataki
to wish New York women a happy
Mother's Day," CSEA President
Danny Donohue said as he
lambasted the Governor's cuts in
women's programs.
CSEA statewide Women's
Committee Chair Harriet Hart
agreed, condemning what appear to
be 30 to 50 percent funds lost over
last year's budget in women's
health care programs including
breast cemcer screening, prenatal
care and services to women with
AIDS.
'This year's proposed budget
eliminates child care and economic
programs that helped women join
the work force," Hart said.
"Our breast cancer rates are
frightening," said Liz Puttre, CSEA
Ivong Island Region Women's
Committee chair. 'That our
Governor is proposing a 38 percent
cut in breast cancer screening is
atrocious," she said.
"What kind of a Mother's Day
greeting is this for New York's
women when our Governor plans
to slash services to pregnant
women and their newborns by 37
percent," Donohue asked.
Hart also deplored the
Governor's budget priorities,
mentioning the elimination of child
care at CUNY and SUNY campuses
and 29 percent cuts in services for
HIV-positive and AlDS-infected
women.
CSEA Nassau County Retirees Local 919 President Nicholas
Pollicino, right, gestures toward state legislators while
demanding fairness and dignity for retirees during a
program commemorating the 75th anniversary of the state
and local retirement systems. Awaiting his turn to speak at
left is Assemblyperson Paul Harenberg, a vocal advocate for
senior citizens and retirees.
Long, hard battle for
pension supplementation
won; retro pay expected
A long-awaited and hard-fought-for supplementation of
public employment retirees' pensions appeared imminent as
this edition of The Public Sector went to press.
Faced with fierce demands at every turn from retirees, key
legislators in both houses suddenly announced in late April
they would sign on to bills that would grant the pension
supplementation to about 250,000 retirees retroactive to last
September. The Assembly was expected to pass legislation the
first week in May to authorize retroactive supplementation and
the Senate was expected to amend legislation introduced in late
April to correspond with the Assembly version.
The retroactive payments will not impact on the state budget
itself because the pension hikes will be paid by the
supplemental reserve fund of the state pension system.
Most retirees have not received any pension supplementation
since 1988. Individual supplementation amounts will vary
greatly, averaging about $386 a year under the new legislation.
Retirees were scheduled to receive supplementation last
September but the raise was delayed to September 1996 after
Gov. Pataki appealed two successful lawsuits filed by state
Comptroller H. Carl McCall to prevent a budget raid on the
pension fund.
McCall applauded the most recent legislation to grant the
retroactive increase..
"It was unfair to punish retirees for protecting their own
pension fund and for exercising their rights as citizens to seek
relief in the courts," McCall said.
The change of heart by lawmakers followed on the heels of
an eruption of anger and outrage by retirees directed toward
Gov. Pataki and legislators at an April 16 program in Albany
commemorating the 75th anniversary of the New York State
and Local Retirement Systems.
Complete details of the supplementation legislation will be
published in the June edition of The Public Sector.
May 1996
CSEA DPW members save financially-depressed City of Troy a bundle
'We believed something could
be done... we were right'
TROY — When 10 city-owned
vehicles were submerged for 36 hours
after the Hudson River overflowed
during the great flood of 1996 in
January, it could have proved to be a
devastating blow to this financially
strapped city.
All 10 vehicles were declared
"ruined" but the city could not afford
to replace any of them. And since the
city is self-insured, it had to bear the
loss completely.
But the CSEA work force in the
Troy Department of Public Works
stepped forward to save the day - and
the city.
"We believed something could be
done to save the vehicles and help
our city. We were right," said CSEA
Rensselaer County I>ocal 842
President Joe Roimds.
In addition to salvaging the 10 city
vehicles, the employees also converted
two surplus Are service vehicles into
DPW service trucks.
'That cost $200 for tlie paint." Unit
President Francis Burek. a city
animal control officer, said.
CSEA members William Blake,
Michael McLaughlin, Kevin
McDonough and Trace Thompson are
credited with the bulk of the salvage
and restoration effort.
'Troy faced a loss of $150,000 to
$200,000 because we're self-insured.
But now the city may qualily for a
$1,000 per vehicle payment from the
FEMA program toward the cost of the
repairs because of the city employees'
efforts," Mayor Mark Pattison said.
— Daniel X. Campbell
CSEA CITY OF TROY DPW members salvaged 10 waterdamaged cars and converted two other surplus vehicles
into service trucks, saving the financially-strapped city a
large amount of money. From left are CSEA Rensselaer
County Local 842 President Joe Rounds, a DPW
employee; CSEA Unit President Francis Burek and DPW
employee Trace Thompson, who worked on the truck
conversions.
Putnam MH privatization causes concern
CARMEL — The privatization of Putnam
County's Mental Health services will place
hundreds of county residents at risk,
according to members of Putnam County
CSEA Unit.
The county executive
has proposed turning
over the operation of
the department to one
or more private
agencies.
"If we are taken over
by a managed care
company," said Senior
Psychiatric Social
Worker Roger Young,
"a high percentage of
money goes to
administrative costs
and profits; therefore,
Roger Young
a smaller portion of
fimds will be left to
actively provide
services."
Senior Psychiatric
Social Worker Joy
Ganapol said she
believes that people
who can't afford to pay
will not be
accommodated.
"I'm concerned; I
wouldn't be here if I
didn't love my job,"
Ganapol said. "A lot of
people will fall through
tlie cracks, and they'll
end up in hospitals, on
May 1996
• j o y Ganapol
the street or in jail, and their kids will end up
in foster care or placements which in the end
wiU cost the county more."
Private agencies can't make profits by
nmning the variety of programs that the
coimty now undertakes, the workers said.
"We know the players, we know the
programs and we know how the system
works," said Young. 'There are a lot of years
behind us. It's hard to imagine a company
coming in and taking over and offering tlie
same sei*vices."
Many clients spend months or years in
treatment, and
private companies
would attempt to refer
patients to hospitals
rather than keep
them in lengthy
programs, the
employees said.
"Managed care
programs may only
allow 20 sessions or
have a dollar cap,"
Ganapol noted. "You
can't always treat
problems in that
short time frame."
You can't contract
Mary Alice King
out dedication or
loyalty either and Putnam County Mental
Health workers are dedicated to their jobs.
"I don't know how I could work any harder
and earn less," said Psychiatric Social Worker
Maiy Alice King. "We do this because we
care. I"m not driven by money alone."
— Anita Manley
CITY OF FULTON
CSEA unit honors Kathy Mihaiek
FULTON — CSEA activist Kathy
Mihaiek, secretary/treasurer of the CSEA
City of P\ilton Unit, has been presented a
certificate of appreciation by the unit.
Unit President John Allen presents the
award to Mihaiek in the above photo.
Mihaiek was honored for her
suggestions in labor/management
meetings that the city honor employees
with 25 or more years of service and
memorialize employees who have died on
the job.
The city has since implemented a
"Silver Club" and a plaque at city hall to
recognize 25-year employees and
established a memorial garden in memory
of deceased workers.
Sectd^
Member helps rescue two from burning home
LONG ISLAND —
C S E A Village of M a l v e r n e
L a b o r e r G e o r g e S c h e e r w a s in the
right
place
a t t h e right t i m e a n d b e c a u s e h e c h o s e t o g e t
w h o w a s in a n d o u t of c o n s c i o u s n e s s
and
h a d b u r n s o n his a r m s . Together, the two
m e n got the g r a n d m o t h e r o u t of the h o u s e
involved t w o people a r e alive today.
b u t h e r p a n t s w e r e o n fire a n d t h e y c o u l d n ' t
p u t out the flame.
"We removed her pants a n d did w h a t w e
c o u l d while w e waited for the a m b u l a n c e . I
S c h e e r w a s d r i v i n g to a r e c y c l i n g c e n t e r
w a s really worried a b o u t their l u n g s a n d
how
w h e n h e spotted s m o k e . H e realized the
m u c h s m o k e the t w o of t h e m h a d t a k e n in,"
s m o k e w a s c o m i n g f r o m a h o m e o n the street
Scheer said.
he w a s
traveling.
B o t h the g r a n d m o t h e r a n d child
" W h e n w e g o t to t h e h o u s e n o o n e w a s
spent
s o m e time in intensive care b u t recently
t h e r e yet, a n d I s a w a w o m a n o n t h e l a w n
r e t u r n e d h o m e — all b e c a u s e of a f e w g o o d
with a b a b y in h e r a r m s . S h e w a s d a z e d . I
men.
— Sheryl C. Jenks
r a n to h e r a n d a s k e d h e r if a n y o n e w a s still
inside a n d she said her son a n d her mother,"
said Scheer, a volunteer fireman.
CSEA helps Rhinecliff SD
member get job back
At that m o m e n t a n off-duty Port Authority
p o l i c e m a n a l s o p u l l e d o v e r to h e l p . T h e
men
y e l l e d for n e i g h b o r s to call t h e fire
d e p a r t m e n t a n d a n a m b u l a n c e a s they r a n
RHINECLIFF — Maria Mannino
toward the h o u s e .
was
positive that her C S E A activism w a s the
r e a s o n s h e lost h e r j o b .
" W e r a n to t h e h o u s e a n d t r i e d to o p e n t h e
B u t h e r faith in the u n i o n w a s r e a f f i r m e d
d o o r b u t it w a s l o c k e d . I k i c k e d t h e d o o r i n
a n d w e h a d to b a c k u p t o l e t s o m e o f t h e
w h e n a s a r e s u l t of a C S E A g r i e v a n c e ,
s m o k e a n d h e a t o u t , " h e s a i d . " A b o u t five
Public Employment Relations B o a r d
a
arbitrator
feet inside the h o u s e w e s a w the
o r d e r e d t h e I ^ i n e c l i f f S c h o o l D i s t r i c t to g i v e
g r a n d m o t h e r a n d the child."
h e r b a c k her j o b a n d b a c k p a y for the two
S c h e e r r e a c h e d in a n d g r a b b e d the child
CSEA member George Sheer is a hero
Ontario sheriffs unit first in state
to gain new retirement plan
years that she w a s
displaced.
M a n n i n o , e m p l o y e d b y the s c h o o l district
since 1980, h e l p e d
organize her
co-workers
a n d a f f i l i a t e w i t h C S E A i n 1 9 9 0 a s p a r t of
Dutchess Educational Local 867. S h e
was
a l s o the unit's first elected p r e s i d e n t .
T h e district serves t r o u b l e d y o u n g s t e r s w h o
a r e living in the P i u s X l l facility in
Dutchess
County.
M a n n i n o w a s a senior a t t e n d a n c e officer
w h e n she w a s informed that she w o u l d not be
h i r e d f o r the 1 9 9 4 s u m m e r a s s h e h a d in p a s t
years a n d that her position h a d
a b o l i s h e d d u e to
budget
constraints.
' T h e y hired a m a n in
m y place, gave h i m the
title ' D e a n o f S t u d e n t s , '
p a i d h i m twice w h a t
they paid m e a n d
gave
h i m half the duties,"
she said.
CSEA
been
*I would
never have
gotten my job
back if I
didn*t have a
union'
Labor
R e l a t i o n s Specicilist
— Maria Mannino
L a r r y Natoli filed i m p r o p e r p r a c t i c e c h a r g e s .
M a n n i n o w a s o u t of w o r k u n t i l
November
1994, w h e n s h e w a s offered a n d accepted the
position of a t t e n d a n c e officer for less p a y t h a n
she w a s earning as a senior attendance
ofiicer.
At the signing of a new contract for CSEA Ontario County Sheriffs Unit were, from
left, Unit President Kevin Henderson, Sheriff Phil Povero, CSEA Labor Relations
Specialist Pat Domaratz and Unit Vice President Judy Maslyn.
CANANDAIGUA — A new
two-year
contract for the O n t a r i o C o u n t y S h e r i f f s
r e t i r e m e n t eligibility a t a n y a g e a f t e r 2 0
U n i t o f Ivocal 8 3 5 m a k e s its 1 7 5 m e m b e r s
y e a r s of l a w e n f o r c e m e n t s e n n c e a n d
t h e f i r s t in t h e s t a t e to b e e l i g i b l e f o r a
y e a r s o f c o r r e c t i o n s o f i i c e r ser\äce.
" W e k n e w it w a s i n t h e w o r k s , a n d
became available," said Unit
we
President
Kevin H e n d e r s o n . "So w e b a r g a i n e d
g a i n e d it f o r o u r
and
members."
The s t a t e r e t i r e m e n t s y s t e m f o r c o u n t y
sheriffs, undersheriffs,.deputy sheriffs a n d
Sector
25
" A c o u n t y m u s t first a d o p t the p l a n , for
h a p p e n e d to b e i n n e g o t i a t i o n s w h e n it
its e m p l o y e e s to b e e l i g i b l e , " s a i d P a t
D o m a r a t z , C S E A labor relations
a n d lead negotiator. " A n d e a c h
w i l l n e e d to m a k e t h e i r o w n
made numerous disparaging
r e l a t e d to M a n n i n o ' s u n i o n
specialist
individual
decision
w h e t h e r it's w h a t t h e y w a n t . B u t it's g o o d
to h a v e t h e o p t i o n . "
— Ron Wofford
co-workers
administrator
comments
involvement.
In h i s written decision, P E R B
corrections officers, n o w provides for
newly-offered retirement plan.
During her hearing, Mannirio's
testified that o n e p a r t i c u l a r
Assistant
Director K e n n e t h T o o m e y pointed out that b y
eliminating M a n n i n o ' s position, the
administrator m a d e good on threats he had
b e e n m a k i n g since district
affiliated with
employees
CSEA.
' T h e decision that M a n n i n o ' s
position
s h o u l d b e a b o l i s h e d w a s t h e direct r e s u l t of
(the a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s ) i m p r o p e r motive," h e
said.
"I w o u l d n e v e r h a v e g o t t e n m y j o b b a c k il' I
didn't have a union," M a n n i n o
said.
— Anita Manley
May 1996
5
IBM Update
CSEA steamed over
power plant privatization plan
B U F F A L O — A plan by Buffalo State
C o l l e g e to privatize o n e of t h e m o s t
C S E A h a s launched a n aggressive
highly
efficient a n d cost-effective p o w e r - s t e a m
in the state h a s p l a n t e m p l o y e e s a n d
officials boiling
c a m p a i g n to s h o w l o c a l l a w m a k e r s t h a t it i s
plants
CSEA
mad.
in the b e s t interest of the State
University
State workers
City c a n r e m a i n
York
where
they are, for n o w .
While
H. Carl
McCaU
reluctantly
a p p r o v i n g the t r a n s f e r of
more than 3,500
private
sector j o b s to v a c a n t
buildings near Kingston, State
IBM
Comptroller
s y s t e m a n d t a x p a y e r s to a s s u m e o p e r a t i o n of
H. Carl McCall once again rejected Gov.
the plant a n d retain the current
P a t a k i ' s p r o p o s a l to m o v e state w o r k e r s
employees.
— Ed Molitor
T h e college recently i s s u e d a r e q u e s t for
p r o p o s a l s to p r i v a t e c o m p a n i e s f o r o p e r a t i o n
of the p l a n t that, for the p a s t 3 0 y e a r s ,
lobbying
ALBANY
in A l b a n y a n d N e w
until a feasibility s t u d y is completed.
P a t a k i p l a n n e d to m o v e 8 5 0 s t a t e d a t a
has
p r o c e s s i n g j o b s f r o m t h e A l b a n y a r e a to
generated s t e a m a n d h e a t for b o t h the college
the Kingston area, along with 3 , 6 5 0
state
a n d the adjacent Buffalo Psychiatric
income tax processing j o b s covered
under
Center.
A l t h o u g h the college h a s traditionally u s e d
p e r c e n t of the o u t p u t , the p l a n t h a s
70
a state contract with Fleet Financial
been
G r o u p , a private sector corporation.
o p e r a t e d b y e m p l o y e e s f r o m the Office of
a b o u t 1,350 state office a n d
Mental
related j o b s w o u l d have b e e n
Health.
In J u n e , B u f f a l o Psychiatric C e n t e r will
begin operating a smaller, n e w l y
existing plant, w h i c h r a n at a n
transferred
p r i m a r i l y f r o m N e w Y o r k City to B r o o m e
constructed
l o w p r e s s u r e p l a n t strictly f o r its o w n u s e .
a r e s u l t t h e college w i l l h a v e to o p e r a t e
Also,
computer-
County.
As
McCall p u t the p r o p o s e d state w o r k e r
the
transfers on hold while a
unusually
consulting firm studies
private
whether
high 85.2 percent efficiency rate last year.
consolidating state c o m p u t e r operations
E i g h t e m p l o y e e s , w i t h a n a v e r a g e of 2 0 y e a r s
the I B M sites m a k e s financial s e n s e .
e x p e r i e n c e , w o u l d l o s e t h e i r j o b s if t h e p l a n t
s t u d y Is e x p e c t e d to t a k e e i g h t m o n t h s .
goes private.
Meanwhile, the Pataki
C S E A labor relations specialist
Frank
at
The
administration
h a s a s s u r e d C S E A that N e w Y o r k City
B o g u l s k i called the privatization p l a n w a s t e f u l
state w o r k e r s in n o n c o m p u t e r - r e l a t e d j o b s
and
w i l l not
ill-conceived.
"Experienced employees are the biggest
b e i n v o l u n t a r i l y t r a n s f e r r e d to the
B r o o m e C o u n t y site. I n fact, t h e
factor in the efficient o p e r a t i o n of this plant,"
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n n o w p l a n s to create
Bogulski said. "They k n o w e a c h boiler
j o b s f o r t h a t site, m a n y o f w h i c h w i l l b e
and
new
each p u m p a n d are experienced at recognizing
s t a t e j o b s . F i n a l d e t a i l s w e r e still b e i n g
a n d correcting problems. That's w h y there
w o r k e d out at presstime.
has
not b e e n a m a j o r s h u t d o w n of the p l a n t in
m a n y years. T h i s efficiency w o u l d b e lost with
inexperienced vendors r u n n i n g the
CSEA mourns loss of activist
operation."
Bogulski also questioned the college's
motive for seeking a private
C S E A is m o u r n i n g the l o s s of f o r m e r
contractor,
c l a i m i n g that college officials a d m i t t e d
activist F r a n k Gilmore, 55, w h o
they
don't w a n t the d a y - t o - d a y responsibility
recently
p a s s e d a w a y after battling c a n c e r for a year.
and
Until his retirement last spring,
Gilmore
t h e y a r e n o t w i l l i n g to l e a r n t h e o p e r a t i o n .
w a s a r e g i o n a l e q u i p m e n t i n s t r u c t o r f o r tlie
"I f i n d it r i d i c u l o u s t h a t o f f i c i a l s f r o m
s t a t e D O T ' S H i g h w a y M a i n t e n a n c e R e g i o n 3,
institution of h i g h e r l e a r n i n g w o u l d
an
contract
o u t t h e o p e r a t i o n of t h e p l a n t b e c a u s e
a r e u n w i l l i n g to e d u c a t e t h e m s e l v e s a b o u t
operation," Bogulski
covering a five-county a r e a in Central
they
Y o r k . P r i o r to t h a t , h e w a s a c r a n e
the
shovel operator a n d served for a brief period
said.
T h e p l a n t is in g o o d p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n
Plant Utilities Engineers Bernie Carey, left,
and Ray Grierson of Buffalo Psychiatric
Center Local 403 are two of the reasons for
the plant's efficiency.
and
h a s a n e s t i m a t e d 2 0 y e a r s of o p e r a t i o n left
b e f o r e capitcil e x p e n d i t u r e s w o u l d b e
needed,
a c c o r d i n g to a p r i v a t e B e l l E n g i n e e r i n g
New
and
report.
a s the p r e s i d e n t of C S E A F i n g e r L a k e s
Local
DOT
519.
G i l m o r e h a d 3 4 y e a r s of service w i t h the
state a n d w a s a longtime C S E A
activist.
DMV workers putting the brakes on office ciosure
ROCHESTER —
M e m b e r s of
CSEA
Rochester State E m p l o y e e s Local
012
thousand signatures against
c l o s u r e a n d . a c c o r d i n g to I ^ c a l
against Gov. Pataki's budget ax.
President Doris Cota, that's j u s t
And
"I'm s u r e we'll h a v e m a n y
p l a n to c l o s e t h e i r n e w l y
012
the
start.
support.
\^^len t h e y l e a r n e d of t h e
a
the
h a v e c h o s e n their w e a p o n in the fight
t h e i r w e a p o n of c h o i c e is p u b l i c
Governor's
renovated,
more
signatures," Cota said. "People are
a p p a l l e d t h a t this c l o s u r e is b e i n g
state-of-the-art D e p a r t m e n t of M o t o r
p l a n n e d . C l o s i n g this office will n o t
Vehicles office they h a d a h u n c h
only m e a n the l o s s of v a l u a b l e
that
the public w o u l d b e j u s t a s u p s e t
they were. They were
s t a r t e d a petition d r i v e to s a v e
office w h i c h serves
as
right.
T h e e m p l o y e e s s t a g e d a rally
May1996
to t h e c i t i z e n s o f t h e G r e a t e r
a r e a , it w i l l h a v e a
and
the
approximately
2 5 0 , 0 0 0 c u s t o m e r s p e r year. S o far.
6
the local h a s g a t h e r e d m o r e t h a n
services
Rochester
devastating
e c o n o m i c i m p a c t o n t h e city a n d all of
Monroe
County."
— Ed Molitor
DMV workers Carla Van Maldeghem and Pat
Galante, seated, and Local 012 President Doris
Cota, right, garner support to save the Rochester
DMV office.
Sector
CSEA member leads drive for
important seatbelt safety
ONEIDA — It took years of
work, but the New York State
Police now have a device that
demonstrates the value of
wearing scatbelts, especially
when a vehicle rolls over.
Thanks in large part to the
efforts of CSEA State Police
Civilian Employees Lxical 264
member Stephen Charzuk, a
photographer I, the agency now
has a "rollover simulator."
The device is a truck body
mounted on a trailer. The truck,
with dummies in the seats, can
be rotated. The simulator shows
how the dummies are ejected and
can be crushed by the
overturning vehicle. With
CSEA member Stephen Charzuk with the State
seatbelts, the dummies stay in
Police's
first "rollover simulator" that he helped
place.
Charzuk began researching the acquire.
simulator in 1992. He spent
be located throughout the state.
much of his own time on the project. Utica
Charzuk has been recognized for being the
National Insurance Group provided the
first to come up with the idea and conducting
funding to pay for the simulator's
the research and planning that brought the
construction. Decorated with State Police
concept to reality.
logos and colors, the first simulator was
For his dedication to the project, Charzuk
featured at the 1995 State Fair. Utica
received an award from Troop D State Police
National has fimded five more simulators to
and CSEA.
U.S. Savings Bonds a good investment
The campaign to
encourage CSEA members
to invest in U.S. Savings
Take
stock
Bonds has begim for
in America
merica \J* Kj*
1996.
"CSEA supports the U.S. Savings Bond
Program because it provides a wide range of
benefits for our members," CSEA President
Danny Donohue said in a letter to CSEA
state division members.
"Additionally, savings bonds strengthen
our economy. There are many good reasons
to support this "All-American" product. And
purchasing U.S. Savings Bonds is easy
through payroll deduction at work."
Donohue is chair of the savings bond
campaign among state
employees.
The many benefits for CSEA
members include:
• competitive returns;
• state and local income tax deductions;
• federal tax deferral options;
• supplemental retirement income;
• cash when you need it (any time after
the six-month holding period);
• special tax savings for eligible bond
holders using bonds to pay for certain
educational expenses; and
• guaranteed safety.
To invest in U.S. Sa\ängs Bonds, ask
your employer or banker.
'SAVINGS (
[BONDS
BRIEFS
State Employees Local 009
Member needs leave donations
RYE — Richard Bensburg is in the fight
of his life against leukemia, and he needs
help — and time — from co-workers in the
state Department of Taxation and I^inance.
Since September, he has been
undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia, all
the while maintaining full-time status at
the Tax and Finance Department. His only
hope to beat the disease is a bone marrow
transplant scheduled for this month.
The recovery period could take up to a
year, and Bensburg, a two-and-a-half-year
employee, is only entitled to five pay
periods at half pay, CSEA l^cal 009
President Vinny Lord said. After that, he
gets no pay.
Bensburg is hoping his co-workers at
Tax and Finance can donate leave time to
help him during his recovery.
Anyone anjrwhere in the state who
works for Tax and Finance can donate
leave time.
For more information on leave
donations, call Lord at 914-227-8948.
Leave is only part of Bensburg's battle.
First he must survive the transplant.
Bensburg, 33, has been fortunate
enough to find a matching anonymous
donor. His tMän brother, Capt. Robert
Bensburg, U.S. Army Reserve, has been
serving in Bosnia since December and has
received an emergency leave to provide
Richard with any blood transfusions he
may need. He will not be able to
manufacture his own blood unless and
until the transplant is successful.
The Bensburg family is no stranger to
tragedy. His father. Bill, is now a
quadriplegic. The World War II veteran, a
longtime union member, broke his neck in
a fall. His mother, Patricia, also a Tax and
Finance employee, is struggling with the
cost of care for her husband and worries
about both her sons.
Any Tax and Finance employee can
donate leave time to Richard Bensburg.
United Way
LEAP application deadline is June 13
LEAP (catalogs and application
forms were distributed to state
agency personnel and/or training
offices on May 1.
Applications will be accepted from
May 1 until 5 p.m. June 13. Any
application received (not postmarked) after
5 p.m. June 13 cannot be accepted.
M* m j!
Applications may also be faxed until 5 p.m.
June 13 to (518j 785-4854 or (518) 785-4862.
The Labor Education Action Program (LEAP)
is a tuition benefit program available to
members of the Division of Military and Naval
Affairs, Administrative, Institutional and
Sectan^
Operational Services bargaining units,
and employees of Health Research Inc.,
SUNY Construction Fund, and the
Teacher's Retirement System who work
half time or more and received a
paycheck issued April 3 or April 10,
096.
If you have questions about LEAP or other
cTliication and training benefits for CSEArepresented state employees, call the
LEAPLINE at 1-800-253-4332 OR
(518) 785-4669.
Remember: applications received after
5 p.m. Jwie 13 cannot be accepted.
umbedVUtey
Reaching those who need help.
Touching us all*
May 1996
with
jn^
CS6A P^tpiM^
Block grants are snake oil, not solution
There are two "buzz words"
popular during state budget
negotiations which should strike
fear in the hearts of all publicspirited people. The words are:
"block grants."
Block grants have become the
politician's snake oil, the new
and easy quick fix.
But like every quick fix it
comes with a high price tag.
The concept behind the block
grant philosophy is simple: Make
grants available to our local
governments and school districts
with no strings attached. By so
doing, you empower local
officials.
If you
believe
that, then
I have
some
snake oil
for sale.
In reality, block grants will
paralyze our local officials. Why?
Because "no strings are
attached" (no regulations
specifying the money should be
spent on earmarked services) the
amount of money is less.
Keep in mind that the need for
services stays the same. So it's
simple arithmetic: less money to
provide the same sei-vices and no
more money if the need for
services rises.
The real losers here will be
homeowners and the middle
class.
Homeowners because property
taxes will increase. And the
middle class because programs
we depend on will be reduced.
For instance, health care will
become more expensive. There
will be fewer home health care
services and less money for
community hospitals.
That translates into fewer
nurses, higher costs and longer
emergency room waits. Massive
cuts in school aid will adversely
affect your child's education.
That means less money for
teacher aides, bus drivers,
cafeteria workers and custodial
staff. Community colleges will
become more expensive, too.
The bottom line for public
employees is that block grants
will mean less money for
services, fewer jobs, more
privatization and contracting out.
Facing this prospect, each of
you should immediately call your
member of the Assembly, your
state Senator and Gov. George
Pataki and tell them that "We
didn't vote for these changes."
To reach them call toll-free
1-800-SOS-6336.
1996
May 1996
Sector
Local 413 protests layoffs
CSEA Local 413 members and community activists protest
proposed staffing cuts at Manhattan Psychiatric Center.
CSEA member elected to board
PIERMONT — When Town of Orangetown Police
Dispatcher Ronnie Hickey decided she didn't like the
way her village government was being run, she knew
she had to be part of the solution.
Now she is on the Piermont Village Board.
"I was attending the village board meetings. I felt
that representation of the village residents was lost,"
she said. At the meetings she asked lots of
questions.
'They would see me walk into a meeting and they
would say, 'oh, no.' Now they have to deal with me
all the time!"
Ronnie
Hickey ran for the board once before, losing by
Hickey
only 71 votes.
"I consider myself a mouthpiece between the board and the
residents," she said.
Hickey, an Orangetown employee for nine years, serves her CSEA
Unit as treasurer, shop steward and negotiating team member.
— Anita Manley
MANHATFAN — As traffic
whizzed by on FDR Drive,
members of CSEA Manhattan
Psychiatric Center Uical 413,
community activists and patient
advocates protested impending
layoffs of 235 direct care workers.
Chanting "Pataki says cut
back; we say fight back,"
members waved signs at passing
motorists that said "Stop the
dumping, lives arc at stake."
Lx)cal 413 President Sam
Karoma chose the rally location
to dramatize how hundreds of
mental health patients escaped
from the hospital, putting the
community at risk. The problem
could escalate again if staff cuts
occur, Karoma said.
Assembly member Francisco
Diaz told rally participants to
keep the pressure on lawmakers.
"The state has the
One of the CSEA members
who died in the line of duty
over the last year was
incorrectly identified.
CSEA member Edward
LeMin of the Village of Spring
Valley Department of Public
Works died from injuries
sustained after falling from a
garbage truck.
Another CSEA member who
died was inadvertently left off
the list.
Anthony Brown, a Nassau
County Corrections officer,
died June 18 while trying to
protect his family at a party.
An uninvited man who was
asked to leave returned with a
gun and began firing. Although
fatally shot himself. Brown
shot the intruder, saving the
other members of the
gathering from further threat.
— Lilly Gioia
Cornell University C o u n t y G o v e r n m e n t Institute
Multi-Party Collaboration Conference
Co-sponsored
by
CSEA
exploring joint solutions to problems facing communities
June 9 and 10
Presented concurrently
with
County Legislators and Supervisors Summer Conference School
Best Western Conference Center, Poughkeepsie
For more information, 607-255-9510
C o m m u n i t y a n d Rural D e v e l o p m e n t Institute
W a t c h for Inside
Worker Memorial Day corrections
responsibility to provide
treatment for the mentally ill," he
said. "Providing treatment
requires having enough staff."
The president of Manhattan
Community Board 11 said
neighborhood residents should
not have to contend with
mentally ill patients wandering
their streets. Relatives of the
mentally ill said they worry about
their loved ones' safety because
of insufficient staffing.
A former center patient made a
plea to Gov. Pataki.
"Please don't cut the hospital
staff. In the time I spent in that
hospital, so many wonderful
people helped me and now 1 am
able to help others," Lisa Viruet
implored. "It takes staff to give
treatment and the mentally ill
need that help to get better."
Albany
on PBS
Watch Inside Albany, the highly acclaimed show that presents a
critical look at state government. CSEA is a prime underwriter of the
program that airs on public television stations across the state.
Inside Albany is seen on the following public broadcast stations:
Binghamton WSKG. Channel 46
6:30 p.m. Saturday
E3uffalo
WNED, Channel 17
6:30 p.m. Saturday
I^)ng Island
WLIW, Channel 21
11 a.m. Sunday
6 a.m. Wednesday
New York City WNETF. Channel 13
3 p.m. Sunday
WXXI. Channel 21
Rochester
6:30 p.m. Saturday
WCNY, Channel 24
Syracuse
4:30 p.m. Saturday
WCFE, Channel 57
Plattsburgh
6:30 p.m. Saturday
WNPE, Channel 16
Watertown
6 p.m. Saturday
INSIDE
Schenectady WMHT, Channel 17
7:30 p.m. Saturday
ALBANY
2 p.m. Sunday
11 p.m. Sunday
Schenectady WMHQ, Channel 45
May 1996
Ill
I
Ballots will be mailed May 15 to CSEA
members eligible to vote in secret ballot mail
elections of officers in CSEA's six regions.
Members in good standing as of April 1. 1996,
are eligible to vote.
Ballots must be marked in accordance with
instructions that accompany the ballot. If you
wish to vote for an entire slate of candidates,
you may do so by simply marking the slate
designation box. Such a mark will count as a
vote for each indiviual on the slate. You may
vote for individuals, whether on a slate or not,
by checking the boxes next to the names of the
individuals you wish to vote for and not
checking tJie slate designation box.
Completed ballots should be placed inside
the "secret ballot envelope" and sealed. The
"secret ballot envelope" should be placed in the
self-addressed, postage-paid return envelope.
Be sure to sign the Member Validation
Certificate and enclose it in the postage-paid
return envelope according to the instructions.
Failure to sign your name on the validation
certificate will void the ballot.
If an original ballot was not received,
members eligible to vote may request a
replacement ballot on May 23 by calling
Interactive Computerized Elections (I.C.E.) at
(516) 753-0400 collect.
The deadline for receipt of completed ballots
is 8 a.m., June 5.
The counting of ballots will begin on
June 5 at 71 Executive Blvd., Farmingdale, NY.
Results will be announced at the conclusion
of the ballot count and published in the July
edition of The Public Sector.
PRESIDENT
Joseph (Chip)
Heinbach
I
11|
I
I
PRESIDENT
A. June Robak
A s f^rcsident I have
put yoii the m e m b e r
first. I h a v e attempted
to improve y o u r
w o r k i n g conditions
through
communications,
education, training,
health a n d safety, a n d
with the willing
e x c h a n g e of ideas on
w h a t is not only b e s t
for the i m i o n b u t also
for y o u the individual.
Reelect A. J u n e R o b a k .
PRESIDENT
Marge Oxbrough
W l i e n elected
President I will not
d i s a p p o i n t y o u . T i r e d of
feeling neglected,
fibbed to a n d ignored?
("Dues Increase" - how
m a n y of y o u w a n t e d
this?) N e w l e a d e r s h i p is
needed now. You have
nothing to lose.
Qualifications: Local
President - 9 y e a r s ;
Regional a n d Statewide
Committees Member;
G r i e v a n c e Chair.
Totally fed u p !
PRESIDENT
For U Team Slate
L
1
1st VICE PRESIDENT ^ • 2 n d t VICE P R E S I D E N T ! 3rd VICE PRESIDENT
Carmen Bagnoll
Georgianna Natale
Ellen Krzykowski
Judy Gardner
Vote for experience,
integrity, k n o w l e d g e
a n d commitment. A s a
proven leader, I will
b r i n g Region 4 to the
forefront. I a m well
organized a n d intend to
b e available a n d visible
to all m e m b e r s at all
times. I will really w o r k
for you. Vote for T h e
Members 4 U Team.
M y 20 y e a r s of
l e a d e r s h i p a n d seiAice
to the m e m b e r s h i p
nicike m e the most
qualified c a n d i d a t e for
Region IV 1 st Vice
President. I'll u s e that
experience to a d v a n c e
y o u r issues. It's time to
elect leaders committed
to w o r k i n g for you. T h e
Members 4 U T e a m are
those leaders. Please
vote!
T h e m e m b e r s of
Region FV need regiontil
officers with experience
a n d a willingness to
serve all the m e m b e r s ,
n o matter h o w difficult
the times. M y
experience consists of
seventeen y e a r s a s
local officer a n d two
y e a r s a s a regional \ace
president. Please vote
for regional officers
that a r e " m e m b e r s for
you!!!"
Local O f f i c e r for 9
years. Unit President
for 2 y e a r s . U n i o n
Activist for 18 y e a r s . I
will b e there for all
U n i o n M e m b e r s , if it
w a s n ' t for y o u there
would be no Union. W e
all need to pull
together to m a k e o u r
U n i o n Stronger. Please
s u p p o r t the M e m b e r s 4
U T e a m Slate.
I
I
I
I
I
11
ÄJune1996
(Photo not submitted)
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT
1st VICE PRESIDENT
B r o t h e r s & Sisters:
Elect the p e r s o n w h o
will a d d r e s s y o u r i s s u e s ,
a n d voice yoiu"
concerns. 'ITie one that
w o r k s well with others,
a n d believes strongly in
unity, s u p p o r t i n g one
another, a n d is a l w a y s
available for you.
Remember, actions
s p e a k l o u d e r that
w o r k s . Vote for C a r o l
Harvin. Y o u r vote c a n
m a k e a difference!
SECRETARY
Statements of Candidates for CSEA Region Offices
Members
PRESIDENT
Statements of candidates
for CSEA region offices
All candidates for CSEA region offices
were given an opportunity to submit
statements and photographs for
publication in this edition of
The Public Sector. Candidates are listed
on this and the following page in the
order their names will appear on the
official election ballots. Candidates
running as a member of a slate are
grouped under the name of that slate.
Remarks are the personal statement of
the candidate and are not to be
construed as reflecting the opinions or
beliefs of The Public Sector
or CSEA, Inc.
1st VICE PRESIDENT
Carol Harvin
I
Region elections ballots in mail May 15*
Deadline for receipt of completed ballots is 8 a.m. June 5.
Statements of Candidates for CSEA Region Offices
s!
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
The Time For The Old
Regime T o G o Is N o w . I
will fight for the b o o k s
to b e o p e n e d u p , a n d get
m o r e for y o u r u n i o n
d u e s . It's time to get rid
of b a c k r o o m u n i o n
politics a n d take b a c k
y o u r u n i o n . Elect A
President W h o Will Fight
For You!
AI Mead
T h e Capital Region
n e e d s to b e b r o u g h t
together, a n d o u r
membership deserves
o u r b e s t efforts t o w a r d
tliat goal. W e n e e d
leadership by example
a n d Region 4 c a n set
the s t a n d a r d . J u s t
talking a b o u t w o r k i n g
together doesn't get the
job done. Let's b r i n g the
Region b a c k a s the b e s t
in C S E A .
••mmm'vmwmsm/immigm^simmm'imi/ta
SECRETARY
TREASURER
Judy
Remington-Richards
After 23 y e a r s of
experience a s a Local
President a n d Region
Secretary, I seek y o u r
s u p p o r t for Region
President. Irene C a r r ' s
m e s s a g e echoes in my
m i n d - "Don't settle for
one position within
C S E A - educate
yourself, learn the
functions of the
organization a n d move
a h e a d . " Vote J u d y
Remington-Richards!
R o w 6!
2nd VICE PRESIDENT B
Patrick P. Ellis
Federal government
n o w investigating C S E A
financial practices. If
y o u k n o w of dishonesty
b y a n y C S E A officers
a n d staff p l e a s e call U S
L a b o r Racketeering
(914) 5 6 7 - 1 9 4 1 . All
calls confidential.
Please s u p p o r t m e in
m y c a m p a i g n for
Region IV president. I'm
w o r k i n g for y o u .
2nd VICE PRESIDENT •
John Francisco
Multi-term
President of T h r u w a y
Local 0 5 8 a n d
Authorities
Representative to
C S E A B o a r d of
Directors. C h a i r of
Region P A C for n i n e
years. Elected m e m b e r
of Region Executive
Committee 1979-1986.
Please give m e the
c h a n c e to p u t m y
experience to w o r k for
you! M e m b e r s come
first, r e m e m b e r to
vote.
3rd VICE PRESIDENT
A s a C S E A activist on
the Local level (Mt.
M c G r e g o r C S F Local
President, EAP,
E m p l o y e e Benefit F u n d ,
Affirmative Action, Q W L ,
T r a i n i n g Advisory a n d
Labor Management) and
Region ( W o m e n ' s
Committee). I seek y o u r
s u p p o r t for Region
Secretary. A vote for
Leslie (Staigar) D u s s a u l t
is a vote for you!
TREASURER
Cindy Egan
DerGurahian
Privatization, late
b u d g e t s , layoffs, late
p a y c h e c k s , the threat of
m o v i n g m e m b e r s out of
the C a p i t a l city. Folks,
w e n e e d a s t r o n g union,
a n d C S E A is only a s
strong a s its m e m b e r s .
A s a n active m e m b e r of
y o u r u n i o n p l e a s e vote
a n d s u p p o r t Region IV's
Members 4 U Team.
Thank you.
Barbara A. Stack
Liz Habiniak
Joanne M. Van Buren
Del Perrier
T h a n k y o u for y o u r
cooperation a n d s u p p o r t
which have m a d e
serving a s y o u r Regional
Treasurer such a
r e w a r d i n g experience
since 1983. Y o u r
s u p p o r t for myself a n d
the " M e m b e r s 4 U "
T e a m will e n s u r e
experienced l e a d e r s h i p
a n d the p r o v e n ability to
positively a d d r e s s
Political S u b d i v i s i o n .
C o u n t y a n d State
membership concerns
on a timely b a s i s .
W h e n elected, my
p r o m i s e to y o u will b e
to represent y o u r best
interest, not mine.
Sixteen y e a r s ago, w h a t
this Region w a n t e d , w e
got. I w o u l d like to see
that again. Please vote
for me! Local Officers 16
y e a r s , 12 a s President.
C h i l d c a r e B . O . D . for 2
years.
(Statement not
submitted)
Choose your own
leaders - not c a n d i d a t e s
h a n d picked by
s o m e o n e else! I a m a n
independent, nonpolitical activist with 20
y e a r s experience,
serving m a n y difierent
roles - f r o m the unit
t h r o u g h A F S C M E level.
I will lead the m e m b e r s
of o u r region t h r o u g h
this tiying time with
honesty, integrity,
dedication a n d trust.
11
I
Leslie Dussault
June 1996
l\/lary Ann Coons
Experienced, t w o t e r m T r e a s u r e r of the
Elducation Local. I
p r o m i s e to treat all
C S E A members and
officers in a p r o f e s s i o n a l
m a n n e r . I pledge to
w a t c h Region
e x p e n d i t u r e s to see that
y o u r d u e s m o n e y is
both legally a n d wisely
spent a n d to travel only
a s n e e d e d to save y o u
money.
Early retirement incentive OK'd
ALBANY — Hoping to minimize layoffs due
to proposed Vjudget cuts, state lawmakers
passed an early retirement incentive program
for public employees.
CSEA President Danny Donohue expressed
mixed feelings about the incentive and vowed
to keep up the fight against state budget
cuts.
"It's better than having people laid off, but
we know there are better ways to balance the
budget than by cutting the work force,"
Donohue said.
The incentive was originally intended just
for state workers. But. thanks to successful
lobbying by CSEA, lawmakers opened up the
program to all public employees whose
employer opts to participate.
This year's incentive is similar to those
offered in previous years. Eligible employees
age 50 and older with at least 10 years of
sei'vice will be offered one month of
additional pension credit for each year of
service up to a maximum of 36 months.
There are penalties involved, however, for
Tier 1 members who retire before age 55 and
for Tier 2, 3 and 4 members who retire before
age 62 (see table, this page).
To be eligible, state executive branch
employees must work either in a position
that is targeted for elimination or in a
position that can be back-filled by transfer of
an employee whose position is targeted.
For example, an employee in an untargeted
mental hygiene therapy aide position could
take the incentive if a food service worker
whose position is abolished transferred to the
therapy aid position.
"It's better than having people
laid off, but we know there are
better ways to balance the budget
than by cutting the work force."
Other public employees, including local
government and school district employees,
would be eligible for the incentive as long as
their employer would save at least 50 percent
of the base salary that would have been paid
to them over a two year period.
Public employers who choose to participate
in the program may offer their employees up
to two open periods of 30 to 90 days each.
The first and perhaps only open period for
most state agencies will be May 1 through
June 14.
Interested employees must notify their
employer in writing at least 21 days before
the end of the enrollment period and file a
retirement application no later than 14 days
before retirement. If more employees sign up
for the incentive than can be accommodated,
those with the most civil service seniority will
have preference.
— Ed Molitor
— CSEA President
Danny Donohue
What you should know J
^^qbiant-h^
that can be filled by transfer of
an employee whose position is
targeted.
Q: What would I get?
A : One month of additional
pension credit for each year of
service up to a maximum of 36
months.
Q: Are there any penalties
involved?
Now that the early retirement
incentive has arrived, here are
the answers to the most
frequently asked questions
about it.
Q: Who can participate?
A : State executive branch
employees and, if their employer
chooses to participate, employees
of the Legislature, the unified
court system, SUNY, CUNY,
community colleges, public
authorities, local governments
and school districts.
Q: What are the eligibility
requirements?
A : You must be at least 50 years
old with at least 10 years of
service. Additionally, state
executive branch employees must
work in a position that is targeted
for elimination or in a position
12
May 1996
A : Yes, employees who retire
before the normal retirement age
for tlieir membership tier will have
their pension benefits reduced
depending on tier status and age
at retirement.
Q: How do I apply?
A : Your employer may offer up to
two enrollment periods lasting
between 30 and 90 days. If you
wish to participate you must
notify your employer in writing at
least 21 days before the end of the
enrollment period.
Tier2
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
None
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
None
6%
12%
15%
18%
21%
24%
2T/o
32%
37%
42%
47%
52%
3Jl4
None
6.66%
13.33%
16.66%
19.99%
23.33%
26.66%
29.99%
34.99%
39.99%
44.99%
49.99%
54.99%
Q: When must I retire?
A : School district employees must
retire by August 31. 1996; local
government and other non-state
employees must retire by
December 31, 1996; and state
executive branch and non-faculty
SUNY employees must retire by
March 31, 1997.
Sector
Death spurs drive for better security
Hudson River Psychiatric Center members remember co-worker who died after assauit
POUGHKEEPSIE — "Keep up
the pressure!"
That was the advice given at a
joint meeting of members of
CSEA, PEF and Council 82 who
work at Hudson River Psychiatric
Center. The meeting was
prompted by the attack on
Therapy Aide Kevin Lattin. who
died a week later.
Although authorities said his
death was unrelated to the
attack. CSEA Local 410
President Judy WattsDevine disagreed.
Following the meeting,
participants held a
candlelight vigil and
memorial service for
Lattin.
Assaults on direct
care staff who work in
New York State's mental
hospitals are not rare.
In 1987, Clara Taylor, a
Rockland Psychiatric
Center therapy
aide who was working
alone on a ward, was
brtitally murdered.
While facility
administrators promised
that no staff would ever
again work alone, that
CSEA safety specialist Janet Foley
promise has been
OSHA releases security guidelines
for health care and social services
Alter years of CSEA effort,
OSHA has released new violence
prevention guidelines for health
care and social services workers.
For many years, workers in
these industries have been at
risk of violence on the job.
Statistics released last year
revealed that murder is the
nimiber two cause of
occupational death. It is the
number one cause of
occupational death among
women, said Jim Corcoran,
CSEA director of occupational
safety and health.
These shocking statistics are a
red Hag that there is indeed a
problem that needs to be
addressed.
CSEA is no stranger to the
concerns, since many of its
members are at risk. In 1994,
four CSEA members in the
Schuyler County Department of
Social Sei-vices were murdered,
and in 1987, Therapy Aide Clara
Taylor was murdered by a client
at Rockland Psychiatric Center.
CSEA has long carried on a
serious campaign to improve on-'
Sector
the-job security for CSEA
members.
The goal of the new OSHA
guidelines is to dramatically
reduce or eliminate conditions
that could lead to the injury or
death of workers.
To achieve this, OSHA has
prepared these guidelines to help
employers implement effective
security devices as well as
administrative work practices.
These guidelines are "veiy
significant" to CSEA members in
this field, Corcoran said.
This has been a pressing issue
in past years and CSEA has
worked with PESH strongly
advocating changes in this area,
he said.
Job-related violence is now
being recognized by the
government as serious enough
an issue to need guidelines such
as these.
Unfortunately, these
preventative guidelines are only
advisory in nature.
Corcoran hopes they will lead
to much needed legislation.
CSEA safety specialist Wendy
Hord
broken. Adding to the burden,
patients are yoiuiger, stronger
and more clever.
CSEA officials and staff
discussed safety at the meeting.
CSEA's Safety and Health
Coordinator Wendy Hord advised
workers to circulate petitions and
document every incident.
"Help us put pressure on
management by signing petitions,
filling out and filing assault
incident reports; file grievances;
fill out reports whether you are
directly involved in the incident
or not," she said. "You need
evidence to make a case."
Hord also suggested that
employees document verbal
abuse.
"This is usually a predictor of
assaults to come."
Workers are not made aware of
a patient's history, but should be
so they know what to expect, she
noted.
"It's not just inadequate
staffing," Watts-Devine said. "It's
the stress factor, the amount of
overtime, coming to work tired.
Patients know when we're tired
and stressed out."
— Anita Manley
Activism stalls threat
of safety act 'overhaul'
Political action works!
legislation to cut safety and
U.S. Rep. Cass Ballenger (Rhealth protections for 100
NC) has abandoned his efforts
million American workers.
to overhaul the Occupational
But the fight is far from
Safety and Health Act. His
over. The Gregg-Kassebaum
"overhaul" would have
Bill in the Senate has
gutted the law,
been passed by
Budget committee and is to be
minimizing the
enforcement and
cuts still voted on at any time.
inspections that are so
Republicans and
threaten conservative Democrats
vital to workers.
Even with OSHA
to cripple continue to try to pass
intact, many workers
regulatory "relbrm"
workplace legislation that will
face illness, injury and
even death because of
cripple OSHA's ability
safety
unsafe and unhealthy
to issue standards, or
protection even to defend their
working conditions.
With Ballenger's
current safeguards.
changes, the number of
Budget cuts still threaten to
workers at risk and the
cripple workplace safety
number of risks would have
protections.
increased exponentially.
The victory over Ballenger's
Ballenger has admitted that
changes is thanks to your
local union activism was
efforts. Despite Newt Gingrich
responsible for holding
and Bob Dole, we can win if we
Congressional representatives
show them that we take health
accountable and stopping this
and safety issues seriously.
13
March 1996
AFL leader calls for political education
ALBANY— Grassroots political
action lucled by voter education
are the tools the AFL-CIO is
iising to change the lace of
American government.
That's the message AFL-CIO
Assembly seeks
to raise state's
minimum wage
ALBANY — AFL-CIO
President John Sweeney
was on hand with CSEA
President Danny Donohue
as the Democratic majority
of the state Assembly
announced its plan to raise
the minimiim wage.
The Assembly bill would
raise the $4.25 minimum
wage to $5.05.
Noting that many people
must hold two or three jobs
just to make ends meet,
Sweeney said compensation
for corporation chiefs is
soaring.
He urged passage of the
higher minimum wage to
help working people.
"We Ccinnot have a good
economy or a full recovery
by leaving millions of people
behind," he said.
President John Sweeney gave to
the New York State Labor and
Religion Coalition at its annual
conference in Albany last month.
"We want to put working
people's concerns — jobs and
wages, education and health care
— at the center of public debate
this year," Sweeney said.
The AFL-CIO has been hit with
criticism for a $35 million fund it
plans to use in its education
efforts, with some claiming that
labor is a "special interest" trying
to unseat Republicans in the
House and Senate.
Those claims are wrong.
Instead, Sweeney says, the idea
isn't to tell union members how
to vote but to educate them so
that when they cast their ballots,
they vote in their own best
interests.
"We want to help working men
and women judge candidates for
every office in the land against
the standard of where they stand
on the issues that matter to their
lives and livelihoods," he said.
'That is why we are holding town
hall meetings in communities
across the country where working
men and women will tell public
officials, the news media and
their fellow citizens about how
hard it is to hold a decent job,
make a decent living and support
your family in this country."
LEADING THE WAY FOR WORKING PEOPLE — AFL-CIO President
John Sweeney, left, CSEA Presdient Danny Donohue, center, and
AFSCME President Gerald McEntee — discuss plans to
strengthen labor's political action effectiveness, eicpand
organizing efforts and restore the power of the labor movement.
The meeting was videotaped so that rank-and-file members will
be able to hear the discussion.
Working people have been
suffering because corporate
America is downsizing jobs,
wages and working conditions, he
said. Meanwhile, politicians have
been cutting the safety net.
"Our only choice is to fight
back on every front by building a
Lucy hails union political action
AFSCME official addresses Metro region meeting
PENNSYLVANIA — Calling this
presidential election year one of
"great decisions and great
anxiety," AFSCME International
Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy
saluted the theme of the
Metropolitan Region's Spring
Workshop, "Taking It To The
Street."
In his keynote speech, Lucy
hailed recent changes in AFL-CIO
leadership and endorsed
organized
labor's plan
to launch a
$35 million
voter
education
canrpaign
this year.
He noted
that only a
very slim
margin of votes propelled many
extreme politicians into federal
and state offices in 1994, This
year's elections must be very
different, he said.
Condemning attacks on
education. Medicaid and
affirmative action, Lucy urged
increased voter education and
participation.
"Your union will be at the
forefront of the national debate,"
he said.
"Nobody is
going to save
the public
sector except
us and the
folks in CSEA."
* Nobody is going to
save the public
AFSCME International
Secretary-Treasurer William
Lucy
14
June 1996
sector except us and
the folks in CSEA'
Lilly Gioia
stronger, smarter, more effective
labor movement," Sweeney said.
"And just as irr the past we can
be the core of a progressive
coalition that will expand the
frontiers of social justice."
— Kathleen Daly
Strike update
Help Detroit strikers;
boycott USA Today
You can support tlie
striking workers of the
Detroit News and the Detroit
Free Press by boycotting USA
Today, the national
newspaper owned by
Garrnett Co. Inc.
Ganrrett is co-owner of the
Detroit News. Knight-Ridder
is co-owner of the Free Press.
The two papers have
continued to publish since
six unions went on strike in
July.
Circulatiorr has dropped
by 250,000, and many
advertisers have stopped
buyirrg space in the papers.
The newspapers' publisher
estimates it lost about $100
million since the strike
began.
Sectan.
Get with the program!
-Join
PEOPLE
The 1996 political campaign has been
designated as the number one priority for
AFSCME. CSEA's international affiliate. At
the heart of the union political
campaign are the member
volunteers and the cash
necessary for the
AFSCME/CSEA effort to
succeed.
And that means PEOPLE (Public
Employees Organized to Promote
Legislative Equality), the AFSCME/CSEA
lobbying program that operates at the
federal level.
This year AFSCME/CSEA is working
hard to keep Bill Clinton in the White
House and elect fair-minded people to the
Congress, and you can help by
contributing to PEOPLE and recruiting
other CSEA members to join PEOPLE.
Among other things, your PEOPLE contributions help elect
members of Congress who support issues beneficial to public
employees; educate the general public about the public sector;
protect our rights to collective bargaining; protect Social Security
and Medicare; and fight against programs harmful to you and your
family.
AFSCME has long been recognized as among the most effective
labor organization participating in the federal political arena.
AFSCME is second only to the Teamsters among labor unions in
raising political action funds through volunteer member
contributions, and this year hopes to move to the top of the list.
At the same time, CSEA hopes to expand its PEOPLE participation
level to move past Illinois Council 31 and New York Council 37 to
the head of the list of AFSCME affiliates in terms of PEOPLE funds
raised. CSEA currently ranks third.
Earn double
You can help CSEA and AF^SCME
the top labor unions in the
points during May become
political arena and help make America
May is double points
stronger for working people when you
month when you recruit join PEOPLE. PEOPLE membership levels
members for PEOPLE.
range from just $35, $50 and $75 per
Double points,
year with payroll deduction possible for
redeemable for great
state employees and some local
gifts in the new PEOPLE government members. Incentive gifts are
Recruiter Gift Catalog,
available for belonging at the various
will be applied to the
membership levels.
accounts of recruiters
When you recruit new members into
who submit completed
PEOPLE, you earn points that are
PEOPLE applications to redeemable for valuable items as well.
the PEOPLE department
As an incredible added incentive, all
during May.
newly recruited PEOPLE members and
the
members who recruited them will be
IVIartinez-Walsh is
entered in a drawing for a new F'ord
PEOPLE recruiter
Escort automobile. This grand prize
for month of l\/larch
will be awarded when CSEA achieves
its goal of becoming the top PEOPLE
Kathy Martinez-Walsh
affiliate in AFSCME.
of Unit 7550 of Nassau
Chances are you have been, or soon
County Local 830 earned
will be, approached by a fellow CSEA
PEOPLE RecrLiiter of the
member and be asked to join PEOPLE.
Month honors for March
Please join to help your union help
by enhsting 13 new
protect your future, and then ask other members for the PEOPLE
members to join PEOPLE also. You'll be program.
glad you did, and you'll be increasing
your chances to win that Ford Escort at the same time.
For more information about the CSEA/AFSCME PEOPLE
program, call the CSEA Political Action Department at
1-800-342-4146 Ext. 404 or (518) 436-8622.
Sect^
Summary of March meeting
of CSEA's Board of Directors
Editor's Note: The Public Sector
regularly publishes a summary of
actions taken by CSEA's Board of
Directors at the board's ofßcial
meetings. The summary is
prepared by CSEA Statewide
Secretary Barbara Reeves for the
information of union members.
ALBANY — CSEA's statewide
Board of Directors met here on
March 7. In official action, the
board:
* Approved retaining the firm of
Coopers and Lybrand as the
union's auditors for fiscal year
1996;
* Approved a flexible
compensation benefit plan for
eligible CSEA staff employees;
* Approved changing the fiscal
year to end Dec. 31 by amending
the Supplemental Retirement
Plan for officers;
* Approved establishing the
official CSEA mileage
reimbursement rate at the
current IRS rate of 31 cents per
mile, and making future mileage
rate adjustments automatic to the
IRS rate;
* Approved a maximum
miscellaneous allowance for
CSEA meetings during 1996;
* Approved an agreement
authorizing Key Bank to transfer
CSEA funds as directed by CSEA;
* Approved an extension of the
lease for office space for Nassau
County Municipal Employees
Local 882 for the period April 1,
1996, to March 31, 1999, and for
Monroe County Local 828 for the
period of March 1, 1996, to
March 31, 1999, contingent
upon approval by the General
Counsel;
* Approved increasing the
building space budget items for
the Canton Satellite Office and
the Capital Region office;
* Approved dissolving the
Upstate Supply & Support
Distribution Center Local 444;
dissolving Genesee Valley Armory
Employees Local 251 and
transferring Local 251 members
to Transportation, Region 4
(Rochester) Local 506; dissolving
Metropolitan Region Armory
Employees Local 254 and
transferring Local 254 members
to New York City Local 010;
* Approved granting a local
charter to Willard Drug
Treatment Center;
* Approved placing Oneida
County lx)cal 833 and Region II
Liquidation Bureau Local 370 in
administratorship;
* Approved transferring the
Office of Mental Health
Revitalization Teams and
Decommission Process from
Mental Hygiene Central Office
(Albany) Local 673 to CSEA locals
based within the respective region
the members are employed in;
* Approved ICE Systems to
conduct the union's AFSCME
Delegates Election;
* Amended the election
guidelines to end the experiment
of providing membership labels
directly to candidates;
* Approved moving the issue of
SUNY classified employees being
moved to unclassified service to
executive labor/management level
discussions for resolution;
* Approved granting a local
charter to Central New York
DDSO and dissolving Fort
Stanwix Local 422 and Syracuse
Developmental Center Local 424
and transferring members from
Local 422 and Local 424 to
Central New York DDSO Local
414;
* Approved granting a local
charter to Capital District DDSO
and dissolving O. D. Heck
Developmental Center Ivocal 445
and WiltonPEO Developmental
Center Local 416 and transferring
members from Loccd 445 and
Local 416 to Capital District
DDSO Local 407, and
*Approved granting a local
charter to Western New York
DDSO and dissolving West
Seneca Developmental Center
Local 427 and J.N. Adam
Developmental Center Local 400
and transferring members from
I^ocal 427 and Local 400 to
Western New York DDSO Local
425.
Questions concerning this
summary of
actions taken
by CSEA's
statewide
Board of
Directors
should be
directed to
CSEA
Statewide
Secretary
Barbara
Reeves,
CSEA
Headquarters,
CSEA Statewide
143
Secretary Barbara
Washington
Reeves
Avenue,
Albany, NY 12210, 1-800-342-4146
or (518) 434-0191.
May 1996
15
Canine visitors are good medicine
GOSHEN — CSEA members
aren't going to the dogs, they're
bringing them in.
A group of CSEA members in
Orange County are using their
dogs to help others through
Therapy Dogs International, an
organization which trains dogs to
be a comfort in times of trouble.
This philosophy appealed to
Nancy Krupinich, so she and her
Labrador Retriever, Samantha,
joined TDl.
Krupinich, CSEA Orange
County Unit treasurer, and
Samantha visit local nursing
homes regularly Avith other
members of a local TDI group,
the K-Nine Bandaiders. Two
other Orange County employees,
Celia Sager and M. J. Warren,
are also members.
The leader of the local group is
Doug Coulter, another CSEA
member employed by the Town of
Wallkill, Orange County.
The dog owners enjoy the
visits, Krupinich said.
"It's something that makes
you feel so warm, especially
when a person who once owned a
dog makes the connection with
my dog," she said.
Coulter, a professional dog
trainer, was asked by a nursing
home three years ago if he would
visit with some of his canine
"students."
'They told me they would need
about a 10- minute
demonstration because the
patients are medicated." he
recalled. "Well, the patients
enjoyed the program so much
that we were there for more than
an hour.
"It took off from there," he
said. "We started to get more
calls."
Coulter asked his clients and
their pets to join him and his
wife, Karen.
A certified evaluator for TDI, he
organized the Bandaiders, and
now 36 members visit 12 nursing
homes a month.
Coulter would like to get more
people involved as trainers or
handlers. Anyone interested can
contact him at (914) 692-4305.
Working with the group is
gratifying, Krupinich said.
"When you've trained a dog
and when you see it's such a
productive thing in someone
else's life," she said, "it makes
the training and your efforts so
worthwhile."
— Anita Manley
Proposed resolutions
must be submitted
by May 15
Proposed resolutions for consideration by
CSEA delegates to the union's 1996 Annual
Delegates Meeting must be submitted by May
15. 1996.
Delegates to the 1995 Annual Delegates
Meeting voted to change the deadline for
submitting proposed resolutions to the earlier
date effective in 1996. Previously resolutions
had to be submitted not less than 90 days before
the union's Annual Delegates Meeting.
Resolutions may be submitted only by a delegate
and must be submitted on the proper forms. Forms
for submitting resolutions are available from CSEA
headquarters and region offices.
Proposed resolutions must be submitted not later than May 15
to Statewide Secretar>^ Barbara Reeves, CSEA Headquarters, 143
Washington Avenue. Albany, NY 12210-2303.
The 1996 Annual Delegates Meeting will be held Sept. 30
through Oct. 4 in New York City.
16
May 1996
Orange County Unit Treasurer Nancy Krupinich and her dog
Samantha visit the Orange County Home and Infirmary.
Proposed changes to
Constitution & By-Laws
due June 28
Proposed amendments to the CSEA
Constitution & By-Laws for consideration by
CSEA delegates to the imion's 1996 Annual
Delegates Meeting must be submitted by Jvme
28. 1996.
Delegates to the 1995 Annual Delegates
Meeting voted to change the submission
deadline to an earlier date. However, for the
convenience of members during the transition to
an earlier deadline, proposed amendments to the
Constitution & By-Laws will be accepted this year
until June 28. Beginning in 1997, the deadline for
submitting proposed changes will be May 15 each year.
Proposed amendments must be submitted no later than
Jinie 28 to Statewide Secretary Barbara Reeves, CSEA
Headquarters, 143 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY
12210-2303.
The 1996 Annual Delegates Meeting will be held Sept. 30
through Oct. 4 in New York City.
New lungs for Dutchess County DSS member mean
A breath of fresh air
POUGHKEEFSIE — While
most CSEA members opened
gifts of jewelry or clothing last
Christmas, Liz Karlson's present
was a new pair of lungs, thanks
to doctors at Columbia
Presbyterian Hospital in New
York City and the family of a 40year-old woman who died in
December.
"She's a walking miracle," said
Pat Daby, Karlson's supervisor.
Karlson, a clerk 3 at the
Dutchess Coimty Department of
Social Services, was visiting her
co-workers just a few weeks after
her surgery.
Karlson was put on a
transplant waiting list after her
doctors decided that her lungs,
battered by a life-long battle with
cystic fibrosis, could not sustain
her life much longer.
A county employee for six
years, Karlson's condition
became so serious that Daby and
former Unit President Helen
Zocco negotiated a shared job
position for her so that she could
work flexible hours to
accommodate her illness.
By last October, Karlson had
to stay home. By then, she was
on oxygen 24 hours a day and
doubted that she would get her
transplant.
"I'm a small person," she said.
"It was hard to find a donor. We
thought we would have to get the
lungs from a child."
The call came late one night
from Columbia Presbyterian
Hospital where her parents
rLished her for her surgery. Many
hours later, she was breathing
with her newly implanted lungs.
A few days later, she was
exercising on a treadmill. Just
two and a half weeks later, she
was home and catching up on
her Christmas shopping at a
local mall.
Karlson must take antirejection drugs to keep her body
from rejecting the lungs.
Someday she would like to be
Liz Karlson, fourth from the left, is welcomed back to her
office at the Dutchess County Department of Social Services.
From left are Ronnie James, Nancy Rappa, Marilyn Ismail,
Karlson, Betty Westover, David Van Orden, Dianne Green and
John Boadle Jr. Though just visiting this time, she hopes to
return to work soon.
able to meet the family of her
donor.
"I'd like to to thank them," she
said.
Karlson is looking forward to
returning to work soon.
"Liz is bored," said Daby. "She
visits us often and can't wait to
come back to work."
Daby said she will never forget
what Karlson said after her
surgery.
"I never knew breathing could
be so good," she said.
Daby said she will never take
her limgs for granted again!
— Anita Manley
The envelope please
And the winner is...
Dutchess Coimty Local 814 member Urwashi Mehta and her
award-winning son Shivan.
Shivan Mehta, the son of
Dutchess County Unit employee
Urwashi Mehta, was one of 10
winners nationwide to receive the
AFSCME Scholarship for a
Presidential Classroom for Young
Americans.
Sliivan, a junior who attend^..
John Jay High School in
I
Sectr^
Wappingers Falls, spent a week
in Washington, meeting with
politicians and AFSCME officials
and learning about how
government works. He hopes
eventually to study medicine.
Urwashi Mehta is a 10-year
county employee.
CSEA's official publication. The Public Sector, was a multipleawards winner in the 1995 International Labor
Commimications Association Journalism Awards Contest,
continuing a decade-long tradition of winning multiple awards
in the prestigious competition. More than 190 labor
publications from throughout the United States and Canada
submitted 1,631 entries forjudging in the 1995 competition.
The Public Sector earned an award for best feature story for
an article written by CSEA Assistant Director of
Communications Stanley Hornak.
T h i s winner shows that features on sometimes complex
subjects need not be long-winded. In one page of large type, the
need for cost-of-living adjustments ( C O I ^ ) for retirees is argued
crisply and clearly...' said the judges about the article titled "A
COLA Would Hit the Spot"
An award was won in the category of imique performance for
a series of articles detailing the adverse impact on workers and
communities stemming from the privatization of government
operations and contracting out public services at state and local
jurisdictions.
The publication received another award for best use of
graphics for articles written by Associate Editor Kathleen Daly
and Communications Associate Mark M. Kotzin. The articles
were headlined "Canalers unique shop floor 100 yards wide,
500 miles long" and dealt with special obstacles fa(>ed and
overcome by workers on the Erie Canal.
May 1996
17
AFSCME delegates election
ballots will be counted May 10
Ballots will be counted and results
announced May 10 for the election
of CSEA delegates to the 1996
AFSCME Convention scheduled to
be held June 17 - 21 in Chicago.
CSEA will send 219 elected delegates
to the convention, along with the
union's four statewide officers who
are also designated as voting
delegates.
Unavoidable delays in ballot
preparation and distribution
resulted from problems experienced
by the subcontracting print shop
and mail house. These problems
stemmed from last minute updating
of the printing machines, late
delivery of special order envelopes
and extended loss of power at one of
those shops. None of the problems
were experienced directly by
Interactive Computerized Elections
(I.C.E.), the agency which will handle
the tally of the ballots.
For the upcoming election of
region officers, all printing and
mailing will be done by a different
source, one that has successfully
handled CSEA work in numerous
past elections.
Jardine offers special program to
help you get personal lines insurance
Obtaining the best price
and coverage for automobile,
renters, homeowners and
other forms of personal
property and casualty
insurance is becoming more
difficult and confusing for us
all.
With this in mind, CSEA
has worked with Jardine
Group Services Corp., the
administrator for the CSEA
insurance program, to
develop a unique way to
provide Personal Lines
Insurance to CSEA members.
As part of the CSEAsponsored Personal Lines
Insurance Program, Jardine
searches for the best coverage
and price from more than 30
different insurance
companies. Jardine then
offers you a cost-free quote
for coverage, with no
obligation to buy. This helps
to match your specific needs
with the right company, so
you get the best insurance
plan for you.
As a special membership
benefit, you can enjoy the
convenience of having your
premiums automatically paid
through payroll deduction. So
you'll save on the cost of
installment charges that can
cost you as much as $50 per
policy annually.
To provide convenient
service, Jardine is open from
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday
through Friday and from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
You can call a special toll-free
telephone number,
1-800-833-4657, for cost-free
quotes from licensed
insurance counselors.
This Personal Lines
Insurance Program is an
extremely valuable service for
CSEA members. For more
information, call Jardine
at 1-800-833-4657.
Metropolitan Region
honors Lilly Gioia
CSEA staff member Lilly Gioia was
honored at the CSEA Metropolitan Region's
spring workshop for her outstanding effort
and service.
The three-day women's and educational
workshop was held in March in honor of
Women's History Month.
Charles Bell, labor relations specialist,
read a poem he dedicated to Gioia during
the Women's Committee Program.
In the poem. Bell expressed thanks for
her dedication on behalf of the region.
"We salute you, Lilly Gioia, on your
commitment to union issues at home and
abroad," he said.
Gioia, a communications associate, was
recognized for her kindness and hard work
during her 22 years of exemplary service.
This honor was well deserved. Bell said.
"She is always available to lend a hand
with all of the committees and help
wherever she can," he said. "She is a
fcmtastic person."
The region Women's Committee chair
Harriet Hart had similar sentiments about
Gioia.
"Lilly is always willing to go out of her
way to help," not only the Women's
Committee but the region as a whole,"
Hart said. "She is a wealth of information."
— Debbie Kerins
Keep informed!
Call the CSEA
Current Issues Update
'1'8Ö0-342'4146
r^
on a touchtone phone
^MSIM
then hit 15
Joint Committee on Health Benefits contest winners announced
The Joint Committee on Health
Benefits was very pleased by the
response to our Word Search
Contest regarding the New
York State Health Insurance
Program which appeared in the
April edition The Public Sector.
At the time of printing for this
month's edition, over 50
members had submitted an
entry.
The answer key with the
corresponding page numbers of
where they appear in the General
Information Booklet and Empire
Plan or HMO Certificate and first
2 5 correct member entries are
listed below.
.-
18
May 1996
Answer Key
1. Birth (page 8)
2. Sick Leave (page 18)
3. Card (page 10)
4. Medicare (page 28)
5. Partner (page 4)
6. Fund (page 1)
7. Preferred (page 15)
8. Payroll (page 6)
9. COBRA (page 24)
10. Benefits (page 6)
11. Premium (page 10)
12. Dependent (page 22)
13. Waiver (page 13)
14. Student (page 5)
15. Family (page 14)
16. Transfer (page 2)
JOINT UOMMIHEE ON
Winners
Bibi Eshak, Local 694;
Kay Blain, Local 650;
Kathy McKim, Local 418; Darlene
Brewer, Local 412;
Susan Winnie, Local 407;
Janet Downey, Local 503;
Wayne Mullen, Local 615;
Dennis Heimburg, Local 403;
Diane McGovern, Local 434;
Brian F. Smith, Local 256;
Wendy Fetterling. Local 616;
Lois Titus, Local 430;
Christy Metacarpa, I^)cal 690;
Carol Hülse, Local 412;
Joan Ciccone, Local 857;
Diana Cary, Local 648;
Dorothy Hoskey, Local 334;
Linda Brown, Local 263;
Monica Pietrzak, Local 003;
Joan Park, Local 836;
Elaine Valenty, Local 694;
Mary C. O'Neill, Local 191;
Joanne Dudak, Local 602;
Joanne Walleshauser, Local 602;
and Mary Ficco, Local 010.
Congratulations to all of the
winners!
Sector
J
A
Another CSEA member benefit
'In Touch With You'
CSEA, in conjunction with The Buyer's Edge, a consumer
buying service, offers CSEA members a great way to save money
on the purchase of major consumer products.
The Buyer's Edge is a consumer buying service that
negotiates extra discounts and lowest price guarantees on many
big ticket products that would not otherwise be available to
individual buyers. As a CSEA member, you can take advantage of
The Buyer's Edge.
Edge requires that the participating vendor mail you the
difference, plus 20 percent of that difference.
This guarantee even covers advertised sales, discount houses
and other buying plans. (Silver a n d gold items, services, m e r c h a n d i s e
offered witli limits on availability or quantity, d e a l e r - installed options a n d
prices after m a n u f a c t u r e r s ' cut-off d a t e s for m o d e l y e a r s on n e w cars are not
covered b y this guarantee.)
How To Use The Buyer's Edge Program
Member Protection Service That Works For You
Shop and decide on the item you want. Make your choice
carefully. Return policies vary according to dealer. Once you are
If you ever receive less than superior treatment with regard to
price, delivery or service, immediately speak to the management of
the participating vendor. If you don't get satisfactory results, write
to:
ready to purchase, simply call the appropriate toll-free number
listed below and ask the participating Buyer's Edge vendor for
their guaranteed lowest price. Then, using a credit card or
The Buyer's Edge
1429 Route 22 East
Mountainside, NJ 07092
check, and from the comfort of your home, buy by phone from the
participating vendor.
Be prepared to give the CSEA group number
whenever you contact a participating vendor.
THE CSEA BUYER'S EDGE GROUP NUMBER IS 1811.
Lowest Price Guarantee
If you buy a product for $150 or more through a Buyer's Edge
vendor, and within 30 days (24 hours on Travel) and 50 miles and
fmd the item for less at a factory-authorized dealer. The Buyer's
Important Reminder: When comparison shopping, always be sure
you are comparing exactly the same model number, accessories,
service arrangements and warranties, and that the quoted price is the
complete price, including delivery and taxes.
Always be prepared to give the CSEA group number
whenever you contact a participating vendor.
THE CSEA BUYER'S EDGE GROUP NUMBER IS 1811.
CALL THE APPROPRIATE BUYER'S EDGE TELEPHONE NUMBER BELOW FOR YOUR PURCHASES
MAJOR APPLIANCES: Air conditioners, refrigerators, dehumidifiers, freezers,
washers, diyers, ranges, dishwashers, disposal units and microwaves.
TV & VIDEO EQUIPMENT: All types of color televisions including big screen,
video recorders and video cameras.
*Shop in person plans also available.
AUDIO EQUIPMENT: Receivers, turntables, tape decks, speakers, amplifiers,
systems, consoles and compact disc players.
CARPETING & RUGS: Most styles, wall-to-wall or broadloom. Ixtcal installation for
home or commercial use. 25 sq. yd. minimum. Ask about our mobile shop-at-home services.
716-427-8360
Rochester area* Buffalo NY area* 716-838-3345
All other areas 1-800-377-3700
Downstate -
CHINA, CRYSTAL, SILVER, PORCELAIN FIGURINES: Bridal RejJistry available.
DIAMONDS, FINE JEWELRY, WATCHES
EXERCISE EQUIPMENT: Rowers, universal stationary exercise bikes,
treadmills, ski machines, free weights and Physicians Scales.
FURNITURE: Autliorized dealer for over 300 furniture manufacturers.
LIGHTING: Lamps, chandeliers, and sconces, most major quality brands.
LUGGAGE: Travel, briefcases, portfolios, attache cases, travel accessories.
PERSONAL COMPUTERS:
PIANOS & ORGANS: Choose from almost all major brands for home, church or school. (Ask for Otto or Liz)
SEWING MACHINES: Singer and other brands.
TYPEWRITERS
TRAVEL: Discount on any advertised trip, package, tour charter or cruise - plus FREE trip life insurance on air travel.
CAR PLAN:
1. SHOP — decide make, model, and options
2. CALL — for referral to local cooperating dealer
3. DEALERSHIP SAVINGS — ask for The Buyer's Edge price documentation book. Compute your price.
If book not available, call Car Plan.
Computer printout - Dealer's cost of vehicle — only $10.
Used Cars — Late models only (3 years or less) 12 month/12,000 mile warranty.
VACUUM CLEANERS
FURS: Buy quality furs directly from manufacturers. Call for appointment.
KITCHEN CABINETS/COUNTER TOPS: Call for referral.
MOVING PLAN: Professional services, household goods/autos (distances over 40 miles
or interstate). Free in-home estimate. Call 4 weeks prior to moving date.
REAL ESTATE PLAN: Gall referral service before contacting broker.
Ask about specilic savings on purchase or sale of home.
Sector
1-800-543-0911
718-720-3792
1-800-526-5389
1-800-543-8235
1-800-635-9136
1-800-541-9905
1-800-631-0286
1-800-631-0286
1-800-543-8237
1-800-345-6265
1-800-526-6825
1-800-635-0755
1-800-543-7406
1-800-634-8538
1-800-543-8381
1-800-377-3700
212-947-9140
1-800-327-3599
1-800-356-7771
1-800-232-6766
May 1996
19
How Can CSEA Help Me?
A Reference Guide To CSEA Member Services & Benefits
You Can Get In Touch With
Headquarters Toil-Free 1-800-342-4146.
I'ress O plus the extension number you want
at any time.
With a rotary phone, an operator will come
on the line at the end of the recording to
help you reach your party.
With a touch-tone phone, you must press 1
for these options:
If you don't know the extension number,
^press 1 for Field Operations, which
includes Occupational Safety & Healtli,
Local Govt. & School District Affairs,
Research, EAP, the Retiree Division and
State Contract Administration;
^press 2 for Legal Matters, such as
disciplinaries & grievances;
^press 3 for Communications including
The Public Sector, Executive Offices or
Political Action;
*press 4 for answers about dues,
membership & agency shop, group
insurance (not health) and to talk to the
Finance Dept.;
^press 5 to hear a recording of Current
Issues Update;
^ press 7 for Membership Benefits.
Statewide Headquarters
143 Washington Avenne
Albany, NY 12210
Your Toll-Free Connection
To The Employee Benefit Fund 1-800-323-2732.
In the 318 area, call 782-1500. For answers regarding
the Denial Care, Vision Care and Prescription Drug for
state employees and partieipating local government
employees. TDD for hearing iiiipuired only: l-SOO532-3833. Mailing address: CSFiA Employee Benelit
Fund. One Lear .let I.ane, Suite One. Latham, NY
121 10-2395.
Grievances & Discipline
Report any grievance immediately to your local
grievance representative or shop steward. If they are
unavailable, tell your CSEA Unit or Lt)eal President, or
yt)ur CSHA l.ahor Relations Specialist at your region
onice. Don't delay IT you believe you have a problem —
grievances must he Hied on a timely basis.
SPECIAL NOTICE
CSEA's endorsed Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile
Communications Cellular Telephone Program has
been temporarily suspended in Regions 1,11,111 and IV
because of the AFL-CIO national boycott in support of
communication workers and electrical workers.
REGION
OFFICES
Insurance
AFSCME Advantage
CSHA olTers several insuranee programs at low group
Legal
Services
rates and provides the eonvenience of automatic payroll
You can obtain high quality, affordable legal
deduction.
For details on CSEA Security Life Plan. Income
Protection Program. Hospital Indemnity Plan and
Funnily Protection Plan, call toll free: Jardine Group
Services Corp. l-8()0-697-CSE<A.
F^or details on Auto Insurance and Homeowners/
Renters insurance, call toll free: 1-800-366-7315.
services for many personal legal matters through the
AF'SCMFi Advantage Union Privilege I.egal Services
Program. FM)r details and a list of participating lawyers in
your area, call your CSEA region office or the
Membership Benefits Department at Fkadquarters.
1-800-342-4146.
Health
Insurance
AFSCME Union Driver and
For answers to your specific c|uestit)ns about the New
York State Health Insurance Program's Empire Plan:
Traveler
Program Discounts
Blue Cross Claims: .. 1 -800-342-9815 or (518) 367-0(K)9
The AFSCME Union Driver and Traveler Program
Metropolitan Claims (MctraHealth)
1-800-942-4640
Participating Providers
1-800-942-4640
Home Infusion/Nursing, Diabetic Supplies, Durable Med
Equip Home Care Advocacy Program.... 1-800-638-9918
Hospital admission approval/ surgical review:
Empire Plan Health Call
1-800-992-1213
Mental Health & Substance
Abuse Hotline
1 -800-446-3995
Managed Physical Medicine
(chiropractic & physical therapy)
1-800-942-4640
Education
& Training
CSEA provides workshops and training programs lor
union activists. For more information, call toll-lree
1-800-342-4146. On a touch tone phone, press O, then
extension 294. On a rotary phone, ask the operator for
extension 294.
Union-oriented videotapes are available from your
CSEA region office.
Civil
Service Exam Help
The I^abor Education Action Program (LEAP) can
help you prepare for civil service exams with low-cost
study booklets on a variety of relcvent subjects. Call toll
free: 1-800-253-4332.
Safety
Concerns
Report serious accidents, unsafe and unhealthy
working conditions to the CSEA Labor Relations
Specialists at your region office.
rn)r occupational safety and health information, call
CSEA Headquarters at 1-800-342- 4146. On a touch
tone phone, press O, then extension 465. On a rotary
phone, ask the operator for extension 465.
Retirement
For general information about retirement and retiree
membership, call the Membership Benefits Department
at Headquarters. 1-800-342-4146.
Talk to a CSFiA-provided retirement counselor if you
are retiring soon. It's important that you select the
proper option from the Empk)yees' Retirement system,
so you can plan the lifestyle that you want to enjoy.
Call toll free: 1-800-366-5273.
AFSCME Advantage
Mastercard
Features one of the lowest interest rates - 5 percent
above the prime lending rate. No annual fee. For an
applicatit)n form, call your CSEA region office or the
Membership Benefits Department at Headquarters,
l-SOO-342-4146.
If you apply and there is no response within four
weeks, call the issuing bank, the liank of New York,
toll free: 1-800-942-1977.
LONG ISLAND REGION 1 OFFICE
SOUTHERN REGION III OFFICE
METROPOLITAN REGION II OFFICE
CAPITAL REGION IV OFFICE
3 Garet Place, Commack, NY 11725.
(516) 462-.(X)30.
40 I^ulton Street, 22nd Floor, New York, NY
10038-1850. (212)406-2156.
735 State Route 52, Beacon, NY 12508.
(914) 831-1(XK).
One Fxar Jet Lane, Suite Two, Lathiun, NY
12110-2394. (518) 785-4400.
saves you money whether you're traveling by car, bus,
train or plane. It's a motor club, travel service and auto
repair service all in one. Annual cost: $49.95.
Call 1-800-547-4663.
Disney World, Theme Parks
Discounts
Discount admission to Disney Worid in Florida.
Disney Land in California, Six Flags Amusement Parks
and Anheuser Busch Theme Parks Clubs (i.e. Sea World
and Busch Gardens). To rcceive discounts, call
1-800-238-2539 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. MondayFriday. Identify yourself as a CSEA/AFSCME F.ocal
1000 member and provide your Social Security number.
AFSCME Advantage Loan
Program
Unsecured personal loans from $2,500 to $15.000.
with affordable monthly payments, are available to
credit-qualified applicants. Call toll-free 1-800-343-7097
for applications, information.
AFSCME Advantage
Mortgage
Program
Makes buying a home or refinancing your mortgage
easier and more afi'ordable. Savings for buyers and
sellers. Special help for first-time buyers.
Call loll free: 1-800-848-6466.
AFSCME Advantage Career
&l uition
Academic
Planning
savings planning. F^'inancial aid projections.
Counseling and seminars for career decisions. $10
annual fee. I-8()()-733-CRAD (4723).
The Buyer's Edge
It's your buy-by-phone service designed to save you
mc>ney on major purchases. The Buyer's F]dge
negotiates extra discounts and k)west price guarantees
individual buyers don't get. The appropriate information
and toll-free numbers are in your Buyer's I'dge
brochure, and they're published regularly in 'flic Public
Sector. Te) receive a brochure contact your CSEA region
office listed below or call the Membership Benefits
I3epartment at Headquarters, 1-800-342-4146.
CENTRAL REGION V OFFICE
6595 Kirk vi lie Road, F:ast Syracuse. NY 13057.
(315)433-0050.
WESTERN REGION VI OFFICE
482 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202.
(716)886-0391